Quantifying the particle aspect of quantum systems

Year: 2024

Authors: Das S., Chakrabarty I., Pati A.K., De A.S., Sen U.

Autors Affiliation: Ist Nazl Ott Consiglio Nazl Ric CNR INO, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Int Inst Informat Technol Hyderabad, Ctr Quantum Sci & Technol, Hyderabad 500032, Telangana, India; Int Inst Informat Technol Hyderabad, Ctr Secur Theory & Algorithm Res, Gachibowli 500032, Telangana, India; TCG CREST, Ctr Quantum Engn, Res & Educ CQuERE, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700091, India; Harish Chandra Res Inst, CI Homi Bhabha Natl Inst, Chhatnag Rd, Jhunsi 211019, Allahabad, India.

Abstract: The possibility of a quantum system to exhibit properties that are akin to both the classically held notions of being a particle and a wave, is one of the most intriguing aspects of the quantum description of nature. These aspects have been instrumental in understanding paradigmatic natural phenomena as well as to provide non-classical applications. A conceptual foundation for the wave nature of a quantum state has recently been presented, through the notion of quantum coherence. We introduce here a parallel notion for the particle nature of a quantum state of an arbitrary physical system. We provide elements of a resource theory of particleness, and give a quantification of the same. Finally, we provide evidence for a complementarity between the particleness thus introduced, and the coherence of an arbitrary quantum state.

Journal/Review: PRAMANA-JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

Volume: 99 (1)      Pages from: 13-1  to: 13-7

More Information: The authors acknowledge discussions with Nirman Ganguly, Chiranjib Mukhopadhyay, Rounak Mundra and Kornikar Sen. The research of SD was supported in part by the INFOSYS scholarship for senior students. The authors of the Harish-Chandra Research Institute acknowledge support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India through the QuEST grant.
KeyWords: Particleness; photoelectric effect; complementarity; wave-particle duality; 03.65.-w; 32.00; 01.55.+b
DOI: 10.1007/s12043-024-02865-5